Top Tours

Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing

"On this private tour you will have the opportunity to visit the following historic sites:Museum of Anatolian Civilizations:The collections in this museum place an unusual emphasis on the earlier of Anatolia's occupiers and start with an interesting exhibit of finds from the Catal Huyuk site often described as the earliest known human community in the world. Other highlights include a collection of tablets the translations of which remind you how little some things in the world have changed over the millennia.Citadel of Ankara:The Citadel overlooks the city and is the acknowledged symbol of Ankara. It is the oldest part of the city built either by Hittites or Phrygians people live almost as they did 600 years ago. The region was settled before 2000 BC.Ataturk Mausoleum:This mausoleum is the eternal resting place of Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic

Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing

"On this private tour you will have the opportunity to visit the following historic sites:Museum of Anatolian Civilizations:The collections in this museum place an unusual emphasis on the earlier of Anatolia's occupiers and start with an interesting exhibit of finds from the Catal Huyuk site often described as the earliest known human community in the world. Other highlights include a collection of tablets the translations of which remind you how little some things in the world have changed over the millennia.Citadel of Ankara:The Citadel overlooks the city and is the acknowledged symbol of Ankara. It is the oldest part of the city built either by Hittites or Phrygians people live almost as they did 600 years ago. The region was settled before 2000 BC.Ataturk Mausoleum:This mausoleum is the eternal resting place of Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic

Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing

"On this private tour you will have the opportunity to visit the following historic sites:Museum of Anatolian Civilizations:The collections in this museum place an unusual emphasis on the earlier of Anatolia's occupiers and start with an interesting exhibit of finds from the Catal Huyuk site often described as the earliest known human community in the world. Other highlights include a collection of tablets the translations of which remind you how little some things in the world have changed over the millennia.Citadel of Ankara:The Citadel overlooks the city and is the acknowledged symbol of Ankara. It is the oldest part of the city built either by Hittites or Phrygians people live almost as they did 600 years ago. The region was settled before 2000 BC.Ataturk Mausoleum:This mausoleum is the eternal resting place of Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic

Citadel Tips (7)

The old town of Ankara and its citadel are located on a hill just east of Ulus. This is the oldest part, with old Ottoman houses on narrow, quiet, twisting streets. Some of the old houses are dilapidated and others are nicely restored and in great shape, some housing restaurants or hotels. The area also provides some nice cafes and eateries, and affords one nice views of Ankara, particularly from some of the cafes.

Ankara Citadel,the symbol of the town rises on a hill of 978 meter high. During Hittites era it has been built as a garrison however according to rumors Ankara King Midas had it built. Ankara Kalesi has hosted several civilizations at various periods of history and naturally had many repairs and restorations since then. During Galatians period the castle has been enlarged and city walls added and brought to a position completely overlooking the town.

The citadel has two sections: inner castle and outer castle. Although the outer castle has twenty observation towers only few has reached today. The outer castle has seven entrances: Çankırı, Istanbul, Izmir, Namazgah, Erzurum, Kayseri and Aynalı are the names. Most of the inner castle towers are still in good condition. The walls have been built with marble and red Ankara Stone. The highest point of the inner castle is called Akkale (white castle) or Ali Taşı(High Stone). Allaaddin Camii being one of the best examples, the inner castle completely carries the characteristics of Traditional Turkish architecture.

Between the inner castle walls old Ankara houses attract your attention. This area being one of the oldest residential areas of the town is called Eski Ankara (Old Ankara). The houses are mostly wooden and mud brick. Although there are still some families living on those houses most of them have been converted to restaurants and gift stores. Antique dealers, carpet sellers, and masters of traditional Turkish handicrafts continue their work here.

The stands near the entrance exhibiting various herbs, spice and kuruyemiş (dried fruits) will fascinate you and we strongly suggest you to taste some. You wont be regretted.

Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations) and M. Rahmi Koc Museum at Cengel Han are among the places to be visited. When you leave the museum and walk up towards the castle on rough cobblestone streets Zengerpaşa and Boyacızade mansions will meet you. The owners of these mansions have them restored and converted to restaurant.

They welcome the visitors with beautiful panorama and traditional Turkish food accompanied by delicious wine. The sunset is worth to watch over the castle towers. Climb the cihannüma (terraces) of the said mansions and listen the children’s voices, songs shortly the sound of approaching night, you sure feel you are in another Ankara.

Naturally there are several more sites around the castle offering delicious Turkish food and the oldest one is of course Boğaziçi Lokantası located at Ulus, Denizciler Caddesi next to Adliye (Judicial Court) building. Especially the sweets are marvelous. Well have a good meal and before leaving for the New Ankara drop to Akman Bozacısı it is on the courtyard of the Çarşı at Ulus square and have delicious boza. We don’t know whether you like this winter drink but at least you can have a small break by watching the passer bys and maybe take some notes for the “story of the day”! Well, the citadel and environ tell an Ankara tale to those listen….

The area within the walls is, surprisingly, a Turkish village. It’s situated right here in the very heart of Turkey's sprawling modern capital city. Not much has changed in the Citadel for centuries.Walk straight from the gate up Kalekapisi Sokak. The small mosque in the Citadel, the Alaettin Camii, was originally built in the 1100s, but has been repaired and restored many times since.

You may watch my high resolution photo of Ankara on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 39º 56' 23.82" N 32º 51' 52.49" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Citadel - Turkish village .

Ankara Citadel is one of the most important attractions of Ankara. Located atop a hill in the old side of Ankara; this ancient building dates back from the Hittities times, but historically its foundation is attributed to Galatians and completed by the Romans. After the Byzantines and Seljuk made many changes.

The citadel consists in two sections: The inner castle and the outer castle. The first one are still in good conditions, its wall were made of marble and red Ankara stone. The second one has few intact remains of its structure.

It's rich of good wiev,shopping,historical places(house&restaurants),gold,silver,copper.....You will love it as I do.Good turkish reasturant in historical houses.Some day if I can I will buy house there.

This is Ankara citadel. To be honest not much to see there. It is in the old part of the city. It's not big. high stairs lead up to the it. Jipsies sell there some hand made things... but, it's just this.On those pictures are mostly views from the citadel and not the citadel itself.Anyway, near around there are few cafes where you can drink tea/coffee or eat something and enjoy lovely views.

The area around and inside the citadel, being the oldest part of Ankara, contains many fine examples of traditional architecture. There are also lovely green areas in which to relax.

It is well known that the Ankara region was the cradle of wine in Hatti and Hittite times around 2000 B.C. Many restored traditional Turkish houses in the area of the citadel now serve as restaurants and shops.

MalenaN

Tuna_ank

Things to Do Near Ankara

Museum of Anatolian Civilisations

In a rather modern town, and after visiting the Ataturk Memorial, we were taken to the Civilizations Museum.
I thought it was just another museum, to fulfill a couple of hours in a common city, with...

Museum of Ataturk and the War of Independence

Kurtulus Savasi Muzesi was the first Parliament building of Turkey, the first sessions of the new government too place here. It was built by Salim Bey in 1915 and used as the headquarters of Committee...